Don Carlson, the former senior executive director of the Yale Law School Tsai Leadership Program, has resigned following allegations of a romantic engagement with a student while he held a faculty position at Williams College. This comes after Carlson was asked to leave Williams College in 2019, following the surfacing of text messages possibly suggesting a romantic relationship with a student.
The departure of Carlson from a leadership role within Yale Law School is noteworthy, given the nature of the Leadership Program he directed, which is supposed to equip students with a comprehensive skill set aimed at creating a fair and just future.
Unsurprisingly, his departure from Williams College was triggered by alleged text messages hinting at a potential romantic relationship with a graduating senior. Carlson was then completing a temporary full-time faculty role teaching economics. A separate student reported the text messages to Williams, though no formal Title XI complaint was ever filed against Carlson. This incident is detailed in a report by wpri.com.
The incidence at Yale Law School is not isolated. There have been numerous other instances where professors have been alleged to misuse their positions, so much so that recurrent articles on such misbehavior are needed, reminding professionals of appropriate behavior.
It may be prudent to remind professionals once again: there are numerous ways to engage in healthy and respectful relationships that are outside your work or teaching environments. Misconduct, especially inside educational institutions, should not be taken lightly.